Fasting

[stmatthew]

Luke 5:33 - And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

34 -
And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

35 -
But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.



I have been really driven lately to the need of fasting. Prayer is a powerful thing, but when you join fasting to your prayer, I believe that it is like putting a booster on the engine. Jesus said that there were some things that would require fasting with your prayer (i.e. the casting out of the demon from the son). He was plain when he said that when the bridegroom was taken, the bride would fast.

I am interested in others thoughts on this subject. I believe it is a much neglected subject. Yet it is the key for victory over the flesh, and can move God when prayer by it self does not.

Any studies?? Any experiences?? Any insight to share??

[jbenjesus]

Is that that is my heart as well. I'm trying to establish a discipline in my life of prayer and fasting because I want His Spirit to saturate my life to such an extent that He drips from me to others and changes them.

I want so desperately to be in the Father's heart, to know His heart, and express His heart to others.

I don't know if you caught this yet, but when Jesus delivered the man of the demon and told his disciples that this didn't come out but by prayer and fasting, He didn't say I'll be back in 72 hours after I pray and fast. He just immediatley delivered that man from the enemy.

Reason?

The man Jesus Christ was already practicing a life of prayer and fasting so that when any situation arose He was already prepared to take it on in the power of the Spirit.

That is an example to us.

[stmatthew]

jbenjesus,

Your right.

From what I have read in my studies, the custom of the Jews was to fast 2 times a week. I read that it was on Tuesday and Thursday, but I do not know if that can be truely verified.

Jesus' words in Matthew said When ye fast.............. The way I see it, he was expecting us to fast! It baffles me why this is not taught very much, if any. I feel like it is a companion to prayer, and that real prayer is not complete without it.

[Hnovilla]

His Name is Jesus!

Is fasting needed to be heard of God? Or to be sensitive to the Voice of God?
Brother Villa

[stmatthew]

Bro Villa,

I believe there are hights that we will not reach without fasting. There are depths of the spirit that the carnal man cannot go to.

Having said that, I do believe God will here the cry of a little one just as easy as he will here the cry of one mighty in the spirit.

So................. What is your thoughts on fasting??? :)

[tufluv]

If Daniel could fast for 21 days and see results, so can we!
Well maybe not TWENTY ONE days, but how about 2 days a week, that was what our pastor told us is a minumum requirement for a "saint".
Our fasting/praying calls down heaven, we pray on earth as it is in heaven, creating a break-through for the heavenly hosts to intervene past the spiritual forces of evil. Pave the way for -VICTORY is mine! I sure feel stronger when I've fasted and eat less afterwards to boot! The flesh must decrease, so my Lord can increase. More power! Fresh annointings!
Yes, its a struggle well worth the effort.

[Sandy]

We need to fast for the reasons described in Isaiah chapter 59, in order to destroy our own flesh I believe.

That scripture that tells the story about the disciples trying to cast the demon out says it was their own unbelief, which always comes from flesh taking over, that caused them failure in casting that demon out. So Jesus was not telling anyone they have to fast in order to cast this particular type of demon out, or any demon for that matter. But telling them they needed to fast and pray always so that fleshly unbelief would not take over in place of faith and Godly promises. I am not saying we shouldn't fast either. But we should fast for the right reason, and not the wrong one, which is to allow the Lord to come forth putting away our own flesh, so that we can go forth in the power of God doing His works.

[soldout4Jesus]

To answer Bro. Villa, I believe fasting is more of hearing from God than being heard by God, although it works for both ways.

A few years ago, I tried to go on a long fast. The results were great! I was very sensitive to the voice of God to the point that I already knew the subject to be taught by our Pastor during the Bible Study. I could also pray better when I have fasted.

One time, I posted a form in church for a chain fast commitment for our CCC Ministry of which I was the coordinator. The members would choose a date of the month when he would fast.

I put the phrase "When Ye Fast" as a header to imply that one is expected to fast on the date that one has chosen.

Weeks later, I found a book on fasting by Joy Haney with that same title and I was very thrilled to read its contents. It has become one of my favorite readings. unfortunately, I lost my copy of that book.

[Blest]

I have a question about fasting.

There is a pamphlet about fasting one day a week, three consecutive days a month and five consecutive days a year. If someone was to tell you that they had chosen to fast in this manner, would they be losing their reward for saying that?

Would anyone who talked about how they fasted (how long, when, whatever) lose their reward by talking about it? I understand that it wouldn't be good to go around 'bragging' about it, but I'm referring to casual talk, or comparing notes with one another, teaching about it, etc.

MT 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [17] But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [18] That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

Just wondering what your opinions were.

Blest

[Sandy]

I believe those scriptures are saying not to make a show of this to others, but to do it privately instead. That would not be the same as someone teaching on this subject, or even sharing testifying about Godly experiences as a result of fasting. The same goes for praying. We are to pray privately to the Lord I believe, but at the same time, I do not believe that we should not testify about victory that resulted from our prayers either, glorifying God as a result. Because that is not making a show of sacrifices.

Often there is a fine line between what is godly and therefore good, compared to what is not godly, but only fleshly show that is not for the glory of God, but for ourselves instead..

[Goodshepherd]

WE gain strength through prayer and fasting. I agree Sis. Sandy, when we fast we should not look sulky rather, we should look very happy because we are refuelling our spiritual strength

[ddc101]

We should fast both privately and in unity with the congregation for the work of Jesus to go forth in power.Our congregation is involved in just such at this time.We are also meeting together to pray in the mornings and the evenings during this time.Things are changing and I want to say ...all the bugs are coming out.But when things come to the light you can kill the offenses.Things done in secret will come to the light in this kind of atmosphere.
God is good.Honestly a person does not need to have pastoral permission to do the things we should be doing already.Some ought to up an surprise their overworked and burdened pastors by asking to come up to the church in the mornings and evenings and maybe getting a fasting and prayer chain going.Help the work of Jesus.We don't need to sit and wait to be primed but need to get the can of water and prime our own pumps and get the water going.Lots of rust will come out at first and maybe even the water will smell due to the sulfur content(type of hell,decompostion etc.) but in the long run it is worth it to get the pure clean water flowing.lv sis.c
I agree with Sandy that we need to focus first on personal growth first and foremost.

[pastorb]

We have a 40 day fast which consist of no food or drink period from 12 midnight until 4pm and then we eat one dinner meal.

No sweets or sodas just water and natural juice when we can drink.

No T.V. at all, kids no game boys, xbox, nintendo

The last three days of the fast will be a 72 hour fast with nothing at all period and following that we will have communion and footwashing service along with the seven last sayings of Jesus.

But our weekly fast day for the church is Tuesday.

[Sandy]

PastorB, amen to your idea of including the younger ones in this as well. I really witness to that, because we are to train up a child in the way that they should go, and when they are old they'll not depart from it. I especially liked that idea about their giving up the games and TV during that time, even over the food. That one gets a .

Amen Sister Cooper. I realized after you wrote what you did that my post could be taken to not include other saints doing so at the same time. So thanks for clarifying that we should do so too, but not to make a show of doing so openly, which is really what the Pharisees were doing evidently.

[pastorb]

Sister Sandy I have a Hispanic friend who taught me that. The are very diligent people.

When their family fasted, everyone did. If the baby was supposed to eat at 3 he would now eat at 4 or 5 this was training him to get used to fasting and as the kids got older the more they would give up.

All my kids are now able to fast 17 to 6 years old. My six year old still eats lunch at school, but no junk food and no snack when he gets home until we all eat our oe meal together as a family.

Then off to church to shout and give God the glory!!!!!!

[Hnovilla]

His Name is Jesus!

PastorB KNOWS fasting...be it complete, partial or perpetual.
The Prophets Moses and Elijah fasted for forty days and nights, as did also our Lord. This was a COMPLETE Fast.
Daniel fasted meat, wine, and sweet bread (PLEASANT BREAD); which looks to me to be a PARTIAL Fast.
I believe the Lord was always fasting SOMETHING; which would be a PERPETUAL Fast.
I, also, do not believe fasting is to be heard of God, but to become SENSITIVE to His will. "...this comes not out but by fasting and prayer...": it also LOOSENS faith. I guess there's more...so tell me, Church.

Brother Villa

[Adoniyah]

Praying in the Holy Ghost builds one up in faith. June 20.

Fasting for the right motive builts power with God. Isa. 58.

[survivor4christ]

I hear you, Elder.

I have seen people call churches for fasting and prayer and I knew it was for the wrong reasons, wrong motives.

It was yet another form of spiritual witchcraft.

Isaiah 58:3-14

3 Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
4 Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward.
9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
10 And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day:
11 And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.


Love, Sis. Wenona

[Goodshepherd]

I like that Bro. Adoniyah
"Praying in the Holy Ghost builds one up in faith. Jude 20.

Fasting for the right motive builts power with God. Isa. 58."

[soldout4Jesus]

I like the analogy of the pure water flowing, Sis. Cooper. Yeah, the rust and the smell will be exposed first, as the light of the Spirit make manifest the hidden things. But things will turn out right eventually.

[Faithchild]

Fasting means exclusively eating fast food, right ?

(Put down the stones, I'm leaving . . .)

[stmatthew]

I too believe fasting can make one sensitive to the Holy Ghost. True fasting is our denial of self, and yielding to the Spirit. Yet I see that fasting with prayer ushers in answers to prayer that one may not get by prayer alone. Danials fast with prayer brought an answer of understanding. I believe it was his prayer and fasting that gave the Angel victory over the King of Persia. He was wrestling with the pricipality of Persia in his prayer and fasting. Old Testament spiritual warfare. There are strong holds that will not come down, IMHO, unless there is fasting added to the prayer.

I give a big AMEN to Pastorb!! The bible says train up a child. As a little boy, my whole family fasted from midnight Friday, til midnight Saturday. I have resently began a family fast. We fast one meal, 2 times a week. My goal is for 2 days a week for my family. I believe the temperance and consistancy that it is working in me and my family is beyond value. I have explained the need to fast, yet I have continued to say that it is a choice, not a command. I also tell my kids not to get upset if they fail their time of fasting, explaining that I have failed many times. It is the getting back up and continueing on that counts.

I'll say one thing, I believe there are a lot of preachers that could use a good 40 day fast. Pot Bellys abound in the Apostolic ranks. hehehehe :D

[Faithchild]

Stmatthew, we just break our fasts at Ryan's Steakhouse Buffet!

[stmatthew]

Bro Yohe,

hehehehe. The only fasting some folks do is when they sleep! hahahahahahahaha


btw- good to see you here!

[ddc101]

There is some good advice for fasting posted here for those of you who have been pming and asking me about it.lv sis.c